Method of and apparatus for knitting and linking articles of wear



'Sept. 12, 1967 G. ROSSO ET l- 3,340,834

7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS-FOR KNITTING AND LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Fil ed March 50, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet l G. ROSSO T AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND Sept 1-2, 1967 LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Filed March 30, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 12, 1967 G ROSSO ET AL 3,340,834

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed ma nso, 1964 G. ROSSO ET AL METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND Sept. 12, 1967 LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Filed March 50, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 12, 1967 R0550 ET AL 3,340,834

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Filed March 50, 1964 v v 6 Sheets-Sheet s 26 12 '2 37 f r fi r 31a .J 4 23 -11 x 1a 19- 25 29 2B 3 Sept. 12, 1967 3 R0556 ET AL 3,340,834

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Filed March so, 1964 s Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent C) 3,340,834 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING AND LINKING ARTICLES OF WEAR Giuseppe Rosso, Turin, and Mario Protasoni, Gallarate, Varese, Italy, assignors to said Giuseppe Rosso, Turin, Italy, and Calzificio Fratelli Protasoni Societa di Fatto di Mario e Trento Protasoni, Gallarate, Varese, Italy Filed Mar. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 355,557

Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 9, 1963, 7,160/63; May 31, 1963, 11,569/63 11 Claims. (Cl. 112-25) It is known that closing of the toe opening of stockings manufactured on circular or straight bar knitting machines is best effected by joining the edges of the fabric by sewing on alinking machine.

It is further known that for satisfactory linking, the edges to be joined should be formed with a so-called slack linking course followed by a number of so-called protecting courses adapted to facilitate impaling successive stitches of a course of the fabric on successive points on the linking dial.

To prevent development of runs in the finished article the points on the linking dial should carry two stitches each and during sewing the linking points should move by steps or continuously in order to present to the needle the two stitches on one and the same point for joining. The points should each be formed with a longitudinal recess for movement of the needle which is simultaneously drawn through the two stitches on the point. The linking machine should be proportioned in gauge to the machine on which the knitted fabric has been manufactured.

Though this known method is highly satisfactory in respect to the standard of the finished article, it is objectionably slow owing to the necessity of accurately carrying out operations preliminary to seaming properon the linking machine.

In order to suspend the stocking from the linking dial the toe region should be flattened, the stitches in the linking course of one fabric half portion should be accurately flush with the linking stitches in the adjacent half portion, and the loops should be run two by two onto the successive points on the linking dial. Any erroneously skipped loops missing the points on the linking dial shall not be held by the seam and will remain free, thereby inducing -the development of runs in the stocking.

Obviously, this known method requires specially skilled help and steady attention by the attendants to the linking machines.

Methods were proposed for joining the edges of knitted fabric on linking machines, which do not require the above described accuracy in impaling the stitches in the edges of the knitted fabric to be joined on the points of the linking dial.

However, such methods do not appreciably expedite linking or dispense with specially skilled help, as the difficulty persists of impaling on the points on the linking dial the stitches belonging to one and the same linking course.

This invention provides a method of manufacturing stockings which avoids the abovementioned drawbacks,

improves the output of linking machines employed for closing the toe opening of a seamless stocking, does not require highly skilled work for linking, and avoids the operators effort in suspending the edges of the stocking to be joined from the points on the linking dial.

To this end the method of manufacturing stockings comprises the following steps:

(a) Manufacturing the stocking on a circular or straight bar knitting machine in a well known manner and knitting at the toe region a linking course followed by at least one course of conventional stitches;

3,340,834 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 (b) Knitting one course at least of doubled or otherwise reinforced stitches to form a wale following the conventional stitches to provide on the stocking an upstanding circular rib or protrusion on the fabric surface;

(c) Flattening the toe region of the stocking in order to superpose the half portions of said circular rib on each other;

((1) Displacing the toe region of the stocking flattened as described in paragraph (c) tangentially of the periphery of the rotary linking dial carrying the points on a linking machine, while maintaining said rib at a level such that the stitches in the linking course are flush with the points on the linking dial;

(e) Closing the toe of the stocking suspended from the points on the linking dial in a well known manner, by employing the devices for seaming the stocking with which the linking machine is equipped.

According to one embodiment of the method according to this invention, the following two steps are added between steps (b) and (c) described above:

(f) Knitting one course at least of conventional stitches following said doubled or otherwise reinforced stitches forming a wale;

(g) Knitting one course at least of doubled or otherwise re'inforced stitches forming a wale following the conventional stitches mentioned in paragraph (f) to provide a second upstanding circular rib or protrusion on the fabric, parallel with and spaced from the first-mentioned rib.

The novel means required for carrying out the above described method comprises according to this invention a device for guiding the toe region of the stockingwhile it is being displaced tangentially of the periphery of the rotary point-carrying linking dial.

The guide device comprises two members supported by the stationary linking machine frame, one member at least being stationary. One of said guide members. is formed with an edge parallel to an opposed edge of the other member. The opposite edges of the two guide members define a through slot therebetween and are spaced by an extent which is substantially the thickness of the fabric which passes through said slot. The edges are situated above the plane in which the points on the linking dial move, their top and bottom margins, respectively, being situated in planes parallel with said plane. The spacing of said two planes from the plane containing the points is such that when at least one of the circular ribs provided on the knitted fabric abuts the regions on the guide members near said top or bottom margins, respectively, the linking course on the fabric is flush with the points. The arrangement of said edges with respect to the point-carrying linking dial is moreover such that the guide slot is gradually drawn towards the periphery of the linking dial and has its end portion tangent to the circle of the linking dial beyond which the points extend.

By means of the simple guide device described above a correct seaming is effected provided the attendant to the machine causes the circular rib or protrusion means formed on the fabric of the stocking to effectively abut the top surfaces of the guide members, and the underlying fabric to be well stretched at the region at which the loops in the linking course of the fabric are run onto the points on the linking dial.

If such precautions are neglected impaling of the stitches of the fabric on the points on the linking dial may not take place accurately at the linking course throughout the length of the fabric portions to be joined. This might adversely affect the linking operation and result in faulty articles.

A further object of this invention is therefore to provide a guide device of the type refer-red to above which relieves the operator from Watching the pushing of the fabric to be joined on the points of the linking dial throughout the period of this operation.

The invention provides to this end a linking machine equipped with a device of the type referred to for guiding the knitted fabric, comprising means adapted to automatically cause the rib on the knitted fabric to be joined to abut the top surfaces of the guide members defining the guide slot for the fabric, as well as to stretch the knitted fabric portion beneath said rib.

According to a preferred embodiment said device comprises a small wheel provided with circumferential spikes, freely rotatable on a pivot carried by the plate of the guide device remote from the linking dial. Said pivot is arranged with an axis inclined to a direction perpendicular to the plates defining the guide slot and is situated in a plane parallel to and spaced from said slot by an extent such that the spikes on the wheel underpass the guide slot during rotation of the wheel. The inclination of said pivot is moreover such that the plane of the spiked wheel diverges from the plane of the guide plates in the direction of the region at which the plates draw near the periphery of the linking dial.

In order to provide a correct interengagement of the fabric in the guide device by the spikes on the wheel, a plate is secured beneath the guide member nearer the linking dial opposite the wheel, with a view to preventing skipping of loops in the fabric by the wheel spikes on lateral displacement of the fabric.

The plate is preferably formed with a through slot situated in the same plane as the wheel, the circumferential spikes on the latter being of a length such as to reach into said slot during rotation of the wheel.

Further characteristic features and advantages of this invention will be clearly understood from the appended description referring by way of example to an embodiment shown on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatical perspective view of the toe region of a stocking manufactured by the method according to this invention on a circular or straight bar knitting machine, shown before closing of the toe'opening by a linking machine;

FIGURE 2 shows a development in a plane of the stocking portion in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatical plan view of a first embodiment of the guide device according to this invention, adapted to facilitate suspension of the stocking from the points on the linking dial in order to close the toe opening by a seam;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatical plan view of a modification of the guide device; I

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatical plan view of the dial on a linking machine, to which a guide device according to a further embodiment is secured;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the guide device in FIG- URE 6, on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view on line IX-IX of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatical view of details shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the linking dial shown in FIGURE 6 at which the seaming members for the fabric suspended from the linking dial are situated;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view on FIGURE 11;

FIGURE l3 is a plan view likewise on an enlarged scale of the portion of the linking dial shown in FIG- view on line IV-IV of line XII-XII of URE 6 at which the trimming members for the sewn fabric are situated.

Corresponding parts are denoted throughout the figures by the same reference numerals.

The particular character of the stocking manufactured by the method according to this invention, which is carried out on a circular or socalled round stocking machine or on a straight bar knitting machine, shall be described with reference to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings.

The end portion of the stocking, shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 1 without a strict reference to its actual shape, comprises a region 1 of conventional knit from a thread suitable for knitting stockings. Of course this region of the knit can be provided with reinforcements at the plantar arch, with patterns and the like.

This conventional knit 1 extends to the region selected for knitting the so-called linking course diagrammatically denoted by 2. The loops in this course, which are usually slacker than the loops in the other courses, shall be impaled on the points on the linking dial.

Above the loops in the linking course 2 a number of courses 3, such as three or four courses of conventional knit, made for instance from elastic thread, such as a thread of the type known by the trade name Filanca are provided and are followed by a number of courses of specially reinforced knit through insertion in the conventional knit of a thread of any suitable kind, whether natural or synthetic, such as a thread of the type known by the trade name Lastex, of a suitable thickness to provide a circular bulge, rib or protrusion means 4 which may alternatively be obtained by changing the thread holders.

Above the bulge or circular rib 4 a knit portion 5 is formed by conventional stitches and is followed, prefera-bly over a number of courses, by a further bulge, rib or protrusion means 6 obtained similarly as bulge 4.

The bulge 6 is followed by a number of courses 7 including loops formed from threads of conventional denier 1. The portion 7 is intended to facilitate manipulation of the stocking during impaling on the linking machine in the manner described hereafter in order to utimately close the toe opening by a seam.

A device adapted to facilitate impaling of the stocking on the points on the rotary dial of a linking machine is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The device comprises a guide slot 8 laterally defined by mutually opposite parallel edges 9, 10 of the two plates 11, 12 situated in the same plane above the level of points 13 on a rotary dial 14 of a linking machine. The spacing of the edges 9, 10'substantially matches twice the thickness of the conventional knit of the stocking. The plates 11, 12 are stationary and are secured to a non-rotatable component of the linking machine. The plates match in thickness the height of the portion 5 of ordinary knitted fabric, interposed between the two ribs 4, 6.

The guide slot 8 extends adjacent the circumference of the dial 14 carrying points 13 so that the edge 10 of the plate 12 is substantially tangential of the circle of the roots of the points 13.

After removal from the circular or straight bar knitting machine the stocking is flattened at its region near the toe region so that the two halves of each of the ribs 4, 6 are opposite each other. The stocking is then introduced into the guide 8 by placing its ribs 4, 6. beneath and over the plates 11, 12, respectively. The work is then pushed by the operator in the direction of an arrow 15 (FIG. 3) until the loops in the linking course 2 can be engaged by the points 13 on the dial 14. On exit from the guide slot 8 the stocking is run onto the points 13 Where convey it to the seaming and trimming regions. The trimming region, at which the portion of the knit overlying the seam is trimmed, can be arranged either ahead or pastthe seaming region, the latter arrangement being shown in FIGURE 6.

Abutting of the ribs 4, 6, more particularly of the rib 6 against the surfaces of the plates 11, 12 causes the loops in the one linking loop 2 to be impaled on the points on the linking dial 14.

Instead of being rectilinear, the guide slot may be made curvilinear, the plate 11 in the guide device being then replaced by a rotatable circular member, which is similarly denoted by 11' in FIGURE 5.

The rotatable member shall be carried along in rotation by the dial 14, as clearly shown in FIGURE 5.

The stocking may be formed instead of with two ribs, With one rib or protrusion means only, namely the bottom or top rib, this one rib cooperating with either surface of the guide plates 11, 12, the opposite margins 9, 10, thereby defining the guide slot 8, so that loops in the knit shall be impaled on the points on the rotary dial of the linking machine from a Well-determined course in the toe portion of a stocking. A guide device as shown in FIGURES 6 to 10 is then advantageously employed, which comprises, similarly to the device shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, two elongated plates 11, 12 of L-shaped cross section, interconnected by straps 16.

The plate 11 is carried by a bar 17 overlying a stationary portion 18 of the linking dial and is secured to the latter by means of a pivot 19.

The plates 11, 12 of the guide device shown in FIG- URES 6 to 10 likewise face each other with straight edges 9, 10, respectively, disposed parallel to each other and defining a slot extending tangentially of a circle 20 of the roots of points 13 secured to a movable portion 21 of the linking dial.

The plate 12 adjacent the linking dial carries a support 22 from which a stub shaft 23 depends. The latter has loosely mounted thereon a small wheel 24 provided with circumferential spikes 25. The shaft 23 has its axis 26 inclined to a perpendicular line 27, FIG. 8, to the top of the plates 11, 12, so that a plane 24a in which the ends of the spikes 25 are situated is likewise inclined to and diverges from the plane containing the plates in the direction of the end of the guide slot 8 nearer the linking dial. The support 22 and shaft 23 are so located that the path of the ends of the spikes 25 extends through the plane in which the edge 9 of plate 11 is situated. The latter is provided on its bottom face with a plate 28 secured opposite the wheel 24. The plate 28 is formed with a through slot 29 parallel to the plane 24a of the ends of the points 25. The slot 29 receives the tips of the spikes 25 on the small wheel 24. This configuration and arrangement of the parts provides a lateral support surface for the knitted fabric moving through the guide slot 8, and prevents the fabric from being pushed back in a direction away from the wheel 24 without its loops having been engaged by the spikes 25. I

The knitted fabric moving in a direction towards the linking dial while it is guided in the slot is engaged by the spikes 25 as it travels past the small wheel 24 which causes the fabric, due to the inclination of the wheel 24, to be pulled downwardly. The pull causes the rib previously formed on the fabric to smoothly adhere to the top surfaces of the plates 11, 12, and the loops in the linking course of the fabric beneath said rib to be flush with the points 13 on the linking dial just before being impaled on the latter. Of course the small wheel 24 and plate 28 are arranged in proximity to the zone at which the work in the guide slot 8 starts being seized by the points 13 on the linking dial, so that the operator having fitted the work into the guide slot 8 shall release it as soon as the latter starts being carried along by the linking dial. The parts are moreover so proportioned that the work having been engaged and stretched by the spikes 25 on the wheel 24 is released after a short length, such as 2 to 3 mm. before it starts being engaged by the points 13 on the linking dial, FIGURE 10.

The above described device can be provided with means avoiding difficulties liable to arise when certain types of thread are used in knitting the fabric through an unavoidable elongation of the loops at the margins of the toe 6 opening which is to be closed by seaming. on the linking machine. Elongation of the loops takes place when the fabric is manufactured, as this is more frequently the case, on a circular knitting machine, at the stage when the cylinder is reciprocated for narrowing in order to knit the toe portion.

To avoid end seam portions inclined to the middle portion in the closed toe the plates 11, 12 have secured thereto near the region at which the guide slot 8 intersects the path of the ends of the points on the dial, two thin spring plates 30, 31. The free ends 30a, 31a of said resilient plates are interconnected by a hoop 32 suspended by means of a double-hooked stay 33 from the end of a lever 34 fulcrumed at 35 to a support for the linking dial and anchored at its other end to a rod 36 of an electromagnet, not shown, situated below the linking dial. The electromagnet is normally energized during operation andholds the end 30a, 31a of the spring plates 30, 31 lifted, as shown in FIG. 8. Two microswitches 37, 38 are arranged on the linking dial and are secured to the plate 11, said microswitches being operable by causing feelers 39, 40 to swing in the direction of the arrows 41, 42 around fulcra 43, 44.

The feelers are arranged to swing on engagement by the rib on the work moving in the slot 8.

The microswitches 37, 38 are so connected in the feed circuit for the electromagnet that they should both be operated to disenergize the electromagnet and lower the end portions 30a, 31a of the spring plates 30, 31 substantially to the level of the top of the plates 11, 12.

Obviously, with the above described structure the rib ends on the work to be joined overpass the end portions 30a, 31a of the spring plates 30, 31 while the former are lifted, the middle rib portion overpassing said end portions while they are lowered. Since said end portions are arranged at the region of interengagement of the work and points 13 on the linking dial, it will be obvious that the above described operation affects the form of the seam effected on the linking machine.

Since the above described methods obviously do not afford a fully accurate impaling of the loops in the linking course of the work on the points 13 on the linking dial, so that the loops are each run onto one point, a suitable seaming has to be adopted in order to fix all the loops and prevent raveling.

A suitable means comprises a double seam, such as a chain stitch seam, effected by two needles 45, 45a, FIGS. 6, 11, 1-2, cooperating with as many loopers, not shown, one, 45, of which extends, as usual with all linking ma chines, through a recess in the top portion of the points 13, the other needle 45a being staggered to the former in a circumferential direction of the linking dial by an extent such as to extend through the gap between two successive points on the linking dial, and is staggered in height so that the seam formed thereby intersects a course of loops overlying the linking course the loops in which are engaged in part at least by the points on the linking dial.

For the seam effected by this method to be satisfactory the points 13 on the linking dial should engage the loops in the linking course and, additionally, the portion of the work overlying the linking course should be well stretched at the region of the seam. This invention provides for the purpose two oppositely arranged guide plates at the sealing region namely an inner guide plate 46 and an outer guide plate 47, having arcuated edges 48, 49, respectively, concentric with the linking dial, spaced from each other to define a slot 50 through which the work carried by the points 13 on the linking dial travels towards the seaming region.

To enable the work to enter the slot 50 as the linking dial rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 11, the plates 46, 47 are formed at their fabric receiving end with inclined edges 46a, 47a defining a V-shaped flare of the slit 50. The top faces of the plates 46, 47 are so located in height that the fabric is held throughly stretched above the linking course when the rib halves formed on the work abut said top faces of the plates. Recesses are formed in the plates for the needles 45, 45a to extend therethrough. In the embodiment shown the needles are straight; however, curved needles can be employed, if desired.

Means for guiding the top portion of the knit overlying the points on the linking dial, similar to the means provided at the seaming region, are further provided at the fabric trimming region.

As will be seen from the figures at the latter region plates, namely an inner and an outer plate 52, 53 are provided, the arcuate edges 52a, 53a of which are concentric with the linking dial. Said edges are spaced from each other to define a through slot 54 situated above the intermediate portion of the points 13. Said plates 52, 53 are interconnected by straps 55 secured to the stationary portion of the linking dial. Cutters for trimming the fabric are arranged at the outlet end of said plates and comprise a stationary cutter 56 secured to the support 62 and a swinging cutter 59 secured to an arm 60 of a bell crank lever mounted for oscillation about a pivot 61 carried by an arm 62 fixedly secured to the stationary portion of the linking dial. Another arm 63 of the bell crank lever is secured by means of a universal joint to a link 64 articulated to an eccentric, not shown, driven from the main driving shaft of the machine.

Summarizing, in order to close the toe opening of a stocking the loops in one course only should be accurately impaled on the points of the linking machine, which is effected according to this invention by forming a projecting rib or protrusion means at the toe end of the stocking, which is essential in order to present the work by means of suitable rectilinear, circular or other conveyors to the points on the linking machine with the loops in the various courses aligned at the region involved, so as to load the points from the course selected for linking.

The linking course is defined by cooperation of the rib on the work and the surfaces of suitable guide means, the provision of which causes the selected course to keep flush with the points.

The above described invention which has been developed to solve a particular technical problem, namely, closing of the toe opening of stockings, is not restricted thereto. It may be useful wherever a knitted fabric should be seamed on a linking machine in order to avoid raveling. The concept of providing a rib extending across the work on completion of knitting and utilizing said rib in cooperation with a guide device by which the thread is fed to the points on the linking dial to impale on said points the loops from one course only of slacker stitches, or linking course, solves the problem of trimming the bottom edges of pullovers, cardigans and similar articles of wear. Trimming was heretofore effected on linking machines which provided a row of chain stitches involving all the loops in the last useful course of the work. This required accuracy in impaling the loops on the points on the linking dial, to avoid raveling. By adopting the method and apparatus described above with reference to the manufacture of stockings, such accuracy shall no longer be required with all inherent advantages.

What we claim is:

1. Method of manufacturing stockings, comprising the following steps:

(a) knitting a stocking on a circular or straight bar knitting machine having at least a foot portion and knitting at the toe region of said foot portion a linking course followed by at least one additional course of stitches;

(b) knitting at least one course of wales following said additional course of stitches to provide the stocking with an upstanding circular rib on the fabric surface;

(c) flattening the toe region of the stocking in order to superpose the half portions of said circular rib on each other;

(d) guiding said flattened toe region of the stocking by means of said rib tangentially of the periphery of a rotary linking dial carrying the points on a linking machine, while maintaining said rib at a level such that the stitches in the linking course are flush with the points on the linking dial and impaling said stitches in the linking course on said points; and

(e) closing the toe of the stocking suspended from the points on the linking dial by employing the devices for seaming the stocking with which the linking machine is equipped.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the following two operations are added between the above operations (b) and (c):

(f) knitting at least one course of conventional stitches following said one course of wales;

(g) knitting at least one additional course of Wales following the conventional stitches mentioned in paragraph (f) to provide a second upstanding circular rib parallel with and spaced from the first mentioned rib.

3. A linking machine joining together two layers of knitted fabric comprising a stationary frame, a linking dial having a plurality of radially disposed points protruding therefrom journaled in said frame, adjustable guide means comprising two guide members supported by said stationary frame, said members each having a guide edge spaced from and parallel to the guide edge on the other member, the opposed edges on said two elements defining a through slot t-herebetween having a width substantially equaling the thickness of the fabric which is adapted to pass through said slot, and being situated above the plane in which said points on said linking dial move, said knitted fabric having protrusion means outstanding from said fabric layers cooperating with said adjustable guide means, said guide edges having their top and bottom margins respectively, situated in planes parallel to said first-mentioned plane, said knitted fabric being inserted between said guide edges with said protrusion means abutting said top margin of said guide edges, wherein the linking course of the fabric will be flush with said points, and with said slot defining edges disposed tangentially with respect to the circle of said points on said linking dial such that the stitches in said linking course will be sequentially impaled upon said points as the fabric is fed between said guide edges.

4. A linking machine as in claim 3 wherein said protrusion means outstanding from said fabric comprises a knitted rib.

5. A linking machine as in claim 3 further comprising rotatable means for automatically causing the protrusion means provided on the work to be joined to cooperate with the top surface of the guide members defining said guide slot, and for stretching'the work portion beneath said protrusion means.

6. A linking machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rotatable means comprises a small wheel provided with circumferential spikes, freely rotatable on a shaft carried by said frame and external of the linking dial, said shaft being arranged with its axis inclined to a direction perpendicular to the guide members and spaced from the latter by an extent such that on rotation of the wheel said spikes thereon underpass said guide slot, and the inclination of said shaft being such that the plane of the small wheel diverges from the plane of said member in a direction toward the region at which said members are disposed adjacent said linking dial.

7. A linking machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein a plate is secured to said frame opposite said small wheel beneath said guide member nearest said linking dial.

8. A linking machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein a through slot is formed in said plate and is situated in the same plane as said spiked Wheel, the circumferential spikes on said spiked wheel being of such length as to re h. nto said slot during rotation of said spiked wheel.

9. A linking machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein in order to facilitate seaming and trimming of the Work carried by said points on said linking dial said linking machine further comprises at the seaming and trimming regions, respectively, additional guide means for the work in the form of spaced internal and external plates fixed to said frame with respect to the circumference of said linking dial, the upper surfaces of said plates being disposed in the same plane as the top margins of said guide elements which are adapted to facilitate impaling of the material on the points of said linking dial, said plates being provided with arcuate edges opposed to each other, concentric with said linking dial and defining a through slot above the inter-mediate portion of the points of said linking dial.

10. A linking machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said additional guide means for the Work are provided with safety members adapted to stop operation of the machine whenever a protrusion being guided on the upper surface of said plates accidentally enters into the slot defined by the arcuate edges of said plates.

11. Method of joining two knitted fabric layers comprising:

(a) knitting each layer of fabric on a knitting machine with a linking course adjacent one end thereof followed by an additional course of stitches;

(b) knitting at least one course of wales following said additional course of stitches to provide each layer of fabric With an upstanding circular rib on the fabric surface;

(e) joining the layers of fabric suspended from the points on the linking dial by employing the seaming means with which the linking machine is equipped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Getaz 66-172 Goodman 66-172 X Binkley 112-25 Hacklander 112-18 Lomax et al. 112-27 Ketaz 112-27 X Bellman 66172 Sidore 112-26 Underwood et a1. 112-25 Wick et al. 112-25 Mayer 112-25 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING STOCKINGS, COMPRISING THE FOLLOWING STEPS: (A) KNITTING A STOCKING ON A CIRCULAR OR STRAIGHT BAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING AT LEAST A FOOT PORTION AND KNITTING AT THE TOE REGION OF SAID FOOT PORTION A LINKING COURSE FOLLOWED BY AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL COURSE OF STITCHES; (B) KNITTING AT LEAST ONE COURSE OF WALES FOLLOWING SAID ADDITIONAL COURSE OF STITCHES TO PROVIDE THE STOCKING WITH AN UPSTANDING CIRCULAR RIB ON THE FABRIC SURFACE; (A) FLATTENING THE TOE REGION OF THE STOCKING IN ORDER TO SUPERPOSE THE HALF PORTIONS OF SAID CIRCULAR RIB ON EACH OTHER; (D) GUIDING SAID FLATTENED TOE REGION OF THE STOCKING BY MEANS OF SAID RIB TANGENTIALLY OF THE PERIPHERY OF A ROTARY LINKING DIAL CARRYING THE POINTS ON A LINKING MACHINE, WHILE MAINTAINING SAID RIB AT A LEVEL SUCH THAT THE STITCHES IN THE LINKING COURSE ARE FLUSH WITH THE POINTS ON THE LINKING DIAL AND IMPALING SAID STITCHES IN THE LINKING COURSE ON SAID POINTS; AND (E) CLOSING THE TOE OF THE STOCKING SUSPENDED FROM THE POINTS ON THE LINKING DIAL BY ENPLOYING THE DEVICES FOR SEAMING THE STOCKING WITH WHICH THE LINKNG MACHINE IS EQUIPPED. 